Disconnect coupling



. April 2,1963

Filed lmyA s. 1961 c.A B. Pos1' i nrsconmacr coUPLINq fm n *A vJLfmui iHyun 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY n n.

MN f f ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 l c. a. Pos1' 3,083,992 DIscoNNEcTcoUPLING Filed may s, 1961 y 2 sheets-sheet 2.

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4Q 3,0 46 Ik! A 32 \/r l f2 5? I?, 522 66 l72 62 70 e@ GO l 3,083,992 tDISCGNNECT COUPLING Charles B. Post, 1522 N. Sheridan, South Bend, Ind.Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 107,512 i Claims. (Cl. 287-119) Thisinvention relates to a disconnect coupling which out the United Statesand enough experience is now 10 accumulated to make evident the need forcertain safety devices which are necessary for safeguarding the waterskier. One desirable safety precaution isl that means should be providedfor disconnecting the water skier from the tow boat at somepredetermined upper limit of tensile force on the tow line because, ifthe skier should lose his balance and become entangled in the tow line,the boat will continue to draw the skier submerged. Under thesecircumstances, it is practically impossible for the skier to surfaceand' he has no opportunity to free himself from the entanglng tow line.vIt frequently happens, where the driver of the boat is inexperienced,that the plight of the skier is not immediately apparent and so thesecircumstances can produce injury if not fatality.

Accordingly, I Propose .aediassasshsaeligali forms apangtthekiiastoultle end ,fgntioa {O breakg n,.releasing the skier from the boatat some predetermined tensile loading of the tow line and which occursunder the conditions previously described, i.e., the boat towing theskier while he is sub-l merged and at cruising speeds of the boat.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensivedisconnect coupling structglg which is unaffected by w'eimatrldlotherenvironmental conditions which are encountered during water skiingoperations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a disconnect couplingwhich is adjustable to releneiheeskier. at l@..preselected-'tensileloatLcLthe tow line and having a` convenient indicator which Itells atwhat load the disconnect coupling is set for operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a disconnect couplingwhich includes a resilient member which can be adjustably loaded toprovide release of the coupling at a predetermined tensile load andwhich may be either in the form of a rubber-like solid block, a stack ofcoil springs or a leaf spring depending upon the design selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disconnect couplingwhich is structurally simplified so that various components are made toperform dual functions. i For example, certain fastening devices whichare used to hold .the coupling structure together are also employed forpivotally mounting the locking jaws. The locking jaws in turn are loadedto a normally closed position bg means of the resilient means.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed description which proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a water skiing operation in isometric view, whereinthe tow line includes a disconnect coupling embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the disconnect couplingconstituting a first embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view raken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is the same as FIGURE 4, but showing the Ajaws as they appearwhen moved to a releasing position;

'- FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of theAinvention in which the rubber block in the previous embodiment isreplaced by a plurality of coil springs;

FIGURE 7 is a further embodiment of my invention in which the sectionalview is taken midway through the width or thickness of a disconnectcoupling lutilizing a leaf spring in place of the coil spring; and,

FIGURE 8 is a clevis which forms a connector between the coupling andtow line.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, lthe water skier 10 is pulled along thesurface of the water and he planes over the surface of the water on theskis 12, his forward momentum being maintained by holding on tothehandle 14 of tow line 16 which is fastened to the boat 18 throughdisconnect coupling 20. i

0 members 22 and 24 which may be formed as stampings or the like and arespaced a predetermined distance apart by means of two complementaryspacer blocks 26 and 28 each of which has a semi-circular cross sectionrecess 30 and an opening 32 which closes one over the other. 'Illerecesses 30 form a pocket which receives an enlarged diameter portion 34of a stem 36 which is bent at its one end into the form of a hook andincludes a shoulder 38 which bears against a cooperative shoulder formedin spacer blocks 26 and 28 between recess 30 and opening 32.

The plates 22 and 24 are clamped together over the spacers 26 and 28 bymeans of threaded machine bolts 40 and 42 which pass through alignedopenings in plate 22 and spacers 26, 28 and are screwed within threadedopenings of plate 24.

The stem 36 has a threaded portion 44 which passes through a threadedopening 48 in compressor bar 46 so that when the stem 36 is rotated itwill react against its shoulder 38 and cause the compressor bar 46 toadvance toward the right from the position shown in FIGURE 4 therebycompressing a solid block 50 of rubber-like material which has anopening 52 through which the stem 44 extends.

The compression block 5t) bears against a second bar 54 having a flatsurface 56 which engages the opposed tlat faces 58 of two jaws 60 and 62which pivot from their normally closed positions shown in FIGURE 4 tothe releasing position shown in FIGURE 5 by pushing the bar 54rearwardly, there being an opening 64 which permits the bar to movebackwardly relatively to the ste 36 for jaw opening movement.

The two jaws 60, 62 are moved pivotally about the bolts 66 and 68 whichare received through bushings 70 and 72 extending through openings inthe jaws 60, 62.

The bolts 66, 68 clamp the two plates 22 and 24 together the same asbolts 40 and 42 and the bushings 70, 72 x the spaced relationshipbetween the plates 22 and 24 which are spaced suiiiciently apart topermit free pivotal movement of the jaws between the two plates. Thebolts 66, 68 thus serve multiple functions in that they hold theplates/22, 24 together and a spaced`distance apart, and they furtherprovide pivotal mountings for the jaws 60, 62.

Since the jaws 60, 62 open against the resistance of resilient block 50,the point at which they will release depends upon the de'frcc of loadingof the resilient block Patented Apr. 2, 1963' press-fitting connectionor the like, the stem head 74 being hrou h a slot 76 in plate 22. Asshown in FIG- lalssdZt, alorxigg the edges of slot 76 there arecalibrated values l0, 50 and 100 which are intended to refer to acorresponding tensilc load on tow line 16 forcing the jaws 60, 62 torelease. The values may be calibratedin pounds per square inch or anysuitable-load value desired.

The disconnect coupling 20 is secured to the boat through the hook endof its stern 36 (FIGURE 2) and is 4secured to the tow line 16 through aconnector which' includes an eyebolt 80 which is free to swivel onclevis 82. Cross-pin 84 fastens to the jaws 60, 62 by passing throughslots S8 of the plates 22, 24. -The cross-pin 84 is connected to th;coupling 20 by fitting it transversely through the slots 88 and thenpassing it along the length of the slots 88. The cross-pin 84 actsagainst cam faces 86 on the jaws 60, 62 spreading the jaws apart andal.- lowing the cross-pin 84 to move down the slots 88 until it bottomstherein and the jaws 60, 62 then snap to their closed positions whereincomplementary concave notches of the jaws 60, 62 close over thecross-pin 84. The disconnect coupling is now prepared for operation.

The tow line 16 then communicates a drawing force on the skier throughthe coupling 20 until the tension in tow line 16 is suicient to pull thecross-pin 84 through the slots 88 by pivoting the jaws 60, 62 to theirreleasing positions shown in FIGURE against the resistance of resilientAblock 50. As mentioned, the point at which the tension in tow line 16is capable of spreading the jaws is determined by the degree ofcompression of block 50 and this is adjustable by operating the stem 36.The tensile force in tow line 16 can be selected by screwing the sternuntil the head 74 is matched with a calibrated value along the edge ofslot '75.

The resilient block 50 can be substituted by a plurality of coil springs90 which are received within recesses 92 of sleeves 94 and 96 and arecompressed between said sleeves to control the release force for thejaws 60, 62.

In all other respects, the invention structurally and functionally, isthe same as the previous embodiment. The coupling is adjusted byrotating the stem 36 to move sleeve 94 toward the right from itsposition shown in FIGURE 6 through` a threaded connection 98 with sleeve94 and thereby controlling the degree of compression of springs 90.

Referring next to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7, wherein there sillustrated a further embodiment of the invention, a circular-shapedcoupling 100, includes two round, substantially flat disk members 102(only onebeing shown) which are spaced apart by spacer blocks 104 andbushings 106', 108. Bolts 110 clamp the two disks 102 together over thespacer blocks 104, and bushings 106, 108 define the centers of pivotalmovement for the jaws 112, 114, respectively. The two jaws have flanges118, 120 which bear against a leaf spring 116 which is loaded at itsmiddle by means of a threaded stem 120 acting through shoulder 124 andwasher 126 against the mid portion of the leaf spring 116 anddetermining by the position of the threaded stern 120 the degree ofloading on the spring 116 and thus the degree of force closing the jaws112, 114. The disconnect coupling 100 is thereby regulated to effectrelease at a predetermined, adjustable tensile load obtainable throughthreaded stem 120, and the hook end 128 is fastened to the boat or othertow vehicle.

The cross-pin 84 is shown in its locked position in FIGURE 7 and thusthe connector of which the cross- Pn 84 is a part may be as shown inFIGURE 8 and secured through eyebolt 80 connecting to the tow iine 16.An important feature of the present invention is that the coupling willrelease at substantially the same tension if the setting remains thesame. Once the resiilent means is adjusted; the disconnect coupling willrelease the tow line at substantially the same tension of the tow line..It should be further noted that the disconnect coupling will v notoperate until both jaws are pivoted to'a release position becausetheslot in the plates is obstructed sulliciently by one of the jaws toprevent movement of the cross-pin 84 through the slots of the plates.Because both jaws must be pivoted to release position, there is obtainedgreater Vutility from the resilient means which acts against both jawsandu also a more consistent operation is obtained.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection with thefew selected example embodiments, it will be understood that these areillustrative and are in lnisgflenserestrictive of the invention. It ismaintained that` such variations and revisions of the invention, as arereasonably to be expected on the part of those skilled in the art tomeet individual design requirements, will be included within the scopeof the following claims as equivalents of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l.v A disconnect coupling forming a part of the tow connection for waterskiing and the like comprising a hook having an integrally formedstepped diameter shoulder and a threaded stern, retainingmeans includinga recess forming a thrust abutment with said shoulder and providingrotatable movement thereagainst, resilient means mounted within saidretaining means, a threaded relatively movable compression memberreceived on said stem and movable thereon to adjustably compress saidresilient means, a bearing member at the end of said resilient meansopposite said compression member, and two cornplementary jaws having camfaces forming a tow connection between said faces and pivot mountingsabout which said jaws are turned to normally closed position by theloaded compression member acting through said bearing member inengagement with said jaws, each of said jaws being arranged to open andrelease its tow connection against the resistance of said loadedadjustable resilient means to disconnect the tow connection at apredeter mined tensile loading thereof.

2. A releasable connection for water ski tow line usage and the like,comprising two plate members having spacers therebetween providing aclearance between said plate members and fasteners for holding saidmembers together, one of said spacers including a shoulder and anopening therein, a rotatable force transmitting means having a shoulderforming a thrust connection with the shoulder of said one spacer and athreaded portion extending through the space provided between said platemembers, two clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between saidplate members and having complementary recess portions which releasablysecure therein a tow line fastener, means forming slots in said platesto provide passage of said'tow line connection into locking relationwith said jaws, resilient means located between said plates and biasingsaid jaws to a normally closed position, and a compression member havinga threaded opening for receiving said threaded stern and displaceablethereby to adjustably compress said resilient means and effect apreselected loading force holding said jaws in their closed position andthereby determining their release force of said jaws on said fastener.

3. A disconnect coupling comprising two spaced rigid members forming ahousing, means disposed within the housing and having an abutmenttherein, a threaded stem having an integrally constructed hook andpassing through said means which provides rotatable movement therein andforms a thrust connection wifh said stem, two jaws alsodisposed withinsaid housing and having complementary recesses providing a release biehitch connection, means for pivotally mounting said jaws for theirmovement between open andl closed positions, resilient means for biasingsaid jaws to a normally closed position, and a. compression memberadjustably movable by said stem to effect compression of said resilientmeans and thereby determine the tensile load at which said jaws open totheir release position.

4. disconnect coupling comprising a housing having two spaxed membersand spacer means holding said members apart, fasteners passing throughsaid spacer means for connecting the members and spacer means into arigid structure, two jaws proportioned to fit between said spacedmembers and movable pivotally therebetween, one of said fastenersproviding pivotal support for each of said jaws respectively, resilientmeans acting against said jaws to bias them to a normally closedposition, means for loading said resilient means andthereby effectingthe release point of said jaws, and means for adjustably moving saidloading means and extending from said housing to provide an attachmentfor said coupling.

5. A disconnect coupling comprising a housing, two jaws havingcomplementary portions adapted to form a releasable coupling connection,a resilient block of rubberlike material acting against said jaws tourge them to a normally closed position, a pressure member mounted formovement within said housing and bearing against said block ofrubber-like material to effect compression thereof, means forming areaction'abutment within said hous-` ing, and threaded means actingthrough said reaction abutment and pressure member to effect loading ofsaid` resilient member and thereby establish the release force effectingopening of said jaws to disconnect said coupling.

6. A disconnect coupling comprising two spaced rigid members forming ahousing structure, fastener means for clamping said members together,two oppositely pivoting jaws having complementary portions which providea releasable tow connection and include oppositely extending flangeportions fitted within said housing, a leaf spring bearing against saidflange portions to urge said jaws to a normally closed position, meansfor l ading said spring at the center thereof to effect a preselectedspring force, and adjusting means acting through said loading means andcomprising a threaded member having an extension projecting outwardlyfrom said housing and including an integrally formed hitch connection.

7. A releasable connection for water ski tow line usage and the like,comprising two plate members having spacers therebetween providing aclearance between said plate members and fasteners for holding saidmembers together, one of said spacers including a shoulder and anopening therein, a rotatable force transmitting means having a shoulderforming a thrust connection with the shoulder of said one spacer and athreaded portion extending through the space provided between said platemembers, two clamping jaws mounted for pivotal movement between saidplate members and having complementary recess portions which releasablysecure therein a tow line fastener, means forming slots in said platesto provide passage of said tow line connection into locking relationwith said jaws, resilient means located between said plates and biasingsaid jaws to a normally closed position, a compression member having athreaded opening for receiving said threaded stem and displaceablethereby to adjustably compress said resilient means and effect apreselected loading force holding said jaws in their closed position andthereby determining their release force of said jaws on said fastener,and means carried by said compression member and extending through aslot in one of said plate members having calibrated markings whichindicate the degree of compression of said resilient means and thereby`provide a calibrated value of tow line tension at which said jaws opento release position.

-. having aligned slots at one end thereof, spacer means disposedbetween said plate members for holding them a predetermined distanceapartfaplurality of fastening devices passing through said plates vandspacer means for clamping said plates together, two jaws which arepivotally held by two of said fastening devices for pivotal movementbetween said plate members and include complementary recesses forming aIhitch connection in the closed positions of said jaws, inclined camfaces at the forward ends of said jaws which are contacted by a hitchdevice proportioned to pass through said slots and acting against saidfaces to cam the jaws apart as it moves into locking position withinsaid recesses, means forming an abutment on one of said spacers locatedremotely from said jaws, a threaded stern having a shoulder bearingagainst said abutment and extending outwardly from housing where itprovides a hitch connection, a compression member including a threadedopening for receiving said stern which is held against movement andeffects thereby longitudinal movement of the compression memberresponsively to turning of said stern, resilient rubberlike block ttedbetween said plates `and compressed at one end by said compressionmember and a second abutment member interposed between the other end ofsaid resilient block and jaws and including a guide opening therein forsaid stem, said jaws being pivoted to their open position by biasingsaid second abutment against the force of -said resilient block which isadjustably loaded by the displacement of said compression membereffected through said threaded stem.

9. A disconnect coupling, comprising two complementary jaws forming alocking connection therebetween to receive a force transmitting membertherein, means forming pivots one for each of said jaws, abutment meansfor each of said jaws located to receive thrust at a point relative tosaid pivot means to bias said jaws together and provide a lockingconnection with its associated force transmitting member, resilientmeans effective against said abutment means to produce effort in adirection for maintaining a releasable connection, and adjustable meansoperatively associated with said resilient means to produce acontrollable loading thereof whereby the release point of saidconnection is effectively determined by direction when it overcomes saidresilient means.

l0. A disconnect coupling, comprising two complementary jaws forming alocking connection therebetween to receive a force transmitting membertherein, means lforming pivots one for each of said jaws, abutment meansfor each of said jaws located to receive thrust at a point relative tosaid pivot means to bias said jaws together and provide a lockingconnection with its associated force transmitting member, resilientmeans bearing against said abutment means to produce effort in adirection for maintaining a releasable connection, and adjustable meansfor loading said resilient means to a preferred degree and to produce acontrollable loading thereof whereby the release point of saidconnection is effectively determined by direction when it overcomes saidresilient means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS602,569 Turner Apr. 19, 1898

1. A DISCONNECT COUPLING FORMING A PART OF THE TOW CONNECTION FOR WATERSKIING AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A HOOK HAVING AN INTEGRALLY FORMEDSTEPPED DIAMETER SHOULDER AND A THREADED STEM, RETAINING MEANS INCLUDINGA RECESS FORMING A THRUST ABUTMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER AND PROVIDINGROTATABLE MOVEMENT THEREAGAINST, RESILIENT MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAIDRETAINING MEANS, A THREADED RELATIVELY MOVABLE COMPRESSION MEMBERRECEIVED ON SAID STEM AND MOVABLE THEREON TO ADJUSTABLY COMPRESS SAIDRESILIENT MEANS, A BEARING MEMBER AT THE END OF SAID RESILIENT MEANSOPPOSITE SAID COMPRESSION MEMBER, AND TWO COMPLEMENTARY JAWS HAVING CAMFACES FORMING A TOW CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID FACES AND PIVOT MOUNTINGSABOUT WHICH SAID JAWS ARE TURNED TO NORMALLY CLOSED POSITION BY THELOADED COMPRESSION MEMBER ACTING THROUGH SAID BEARING MEMBER INENGAGEMENT WITH SAID JAWS, EACH OF SAID JAWS BEING ARRANGED TO OPEN ANDRELEASE ITS TOW CONNECTION AGAINST THE RESISTANCE OF SAID LOADEDADJUSTABLE RESILIENT MEANS TO DISCONNECT THE TOW CONNECTION AT APREDETERMINED TENSILE LOADING THEREOF.